New Mexico road trips
Best Road Trips in New Mexico
20 popular New Mexico drives with distance, driving time, EV-friendliness and gas cost at the state's estimated $3.20/gal.
Editor's picks
Top New Mexico Drives Right Now
Curated short-distance New Mexico routes — the most popular, lowest-cost picks.
Our New Mexico road trip ranking method
Routes are ranked by traveler popularity between New Mexico metros and major destinations, with distance, driving time and current $3.20/gal fuel cost calculated for every drive.
- Distance: city-center to city-center with a 1.18× road-curvature factor.
- Fuel cost: 28 MPG baseline × $3.20/gal New Mexico regular.
- Popularity: traveler-intent signals between major New Mexico origins and destinations.
- EV practicality: regional DC fast-charging coverage flagged per route.
Atlanta → Albuquerque
The headline New Mexico road trip — 1498 miles, about 24.2 hours of driving and roughly $171 in gas at $3.20/gal.
More top New Mexico drives (19)
Atlanta → Santa Fe
1450 mi · ~23.4 h · ~$166 gas
Open tripChicago → Albuquerque
1331 mi · ~21.5 h · ~$152 gas
Open tripChicago → Santa Fe
1265 mi · ~20.4 h · ~$145 gas
Open tripHouston → Albuquerque
888 mi · ~14.3 h · ~$101 gas
Open tripHouston → Santa Fe
871 mi · ~14.0 h · ~$100 gas
Open tripSan Antonio → Albuquerque
727 mi · ~11.7 h · ~$83 gas
Open tripAustin → Albuquerque
726 mi · ~11.7 h · ~$83 gas
Open tripLincoln → Santa Fe
724 mi · ~11.7 h · ~$83 gas
Open tripSan Antonio → Santa Fe
723 mi · ~11.7 h · ~$83 gas
Open tripTopeka → Santa Fe
718 mi · ~11.6 h · ~$82 gas
Open tripAustin → Santa Fe
714 mi · ~11.5 h · ~$82 gas
Open tripDallas → Albuquerque
692 mi · ~11.2 h · ~$79 gas
Open tripDallas → Santa Fe
660 mi · ~10.6 h · ~$75 gas
Open tripFort Worth → Albuquerque
658 mi · ~10.6 h · ~$75 gas
Open tripWichita → Albuquerque
647 mi · ~10.4 h · ~$74 gas
Open tripFort Worth → Santa Fe
627 mi · ~10.1 h · ~$72 gas
Open tripWichita → Santa Fe
585 mi · ~9.4 h · ~$67 gas
Open tripEl Paso → Santa Fe
323 mi · ~5.2 h · ~$37 gas
Open tripEl Paso → Albuquerque
271 mi · ~4.4 h · ~$31 gas
Open tripBest driving cost routes in New Mexico
Top New Mexico road trips with gas, distance and driving time at the state's estimated $3.20/gal.
Cheapest New Mexico road trips
Short, low-fuel-cost drives — great for a weekend trip from New Mexico.
Long-distance road trips from New Mexico
500+ mile drives for cross-country and multi-day road trip planning.
Drives in neighboring states
Cross-state routes near New Mexico — Colorado, Arizona, Utah.
Gas prices in New Mexico
Estimated regular at $3.20/gal · premium $3.85 · diesel $3.55.
Best vehicles for New Mexico drivers
- Best hybridToyota Prius57 MPG
- Best EVLucid Air134 MPGe
- Best SUVNissan Rogue33 MPG
- Best truckFord Maverick26 MPG
Commute cost in New Mexico
Daily driving cost estimates for major New Mexico-area cities.
EV vs gas in New Mexico
Compare driving cost of an EV vs a gas car for New Mexico trips and commutes.
Neighboring state road trip hubs
FAQ
What's the best time of year for a New Mexico road trip?
Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable driving weather across most of New Mexico. Coastal and southern routes are pleasant year-round; mountain routes are best between late spring and early fall.
How much does a New Mexico road trip cost in fuel?
At New Mexico's estimated $3.20/gal and 28 MPG, expect roughly $11.43 per 100 miles. Each route below includes a detailed estimate.
Is New Mexico EV-friendly for road trips?
Yes — most popular New Mexico routes have solid DC fast-charging coverage. Check our EV-friendly routes collection for the strongest picks.
How accurate are these distances?
Distances are calculated from city centers using a road-curvature factor of about 1.18 over straight-line distance. Real-world mileage varies by route choice and traffic.